News Release Archive

Reclamation Issues Snowmelt Forecast for Bighorn River Basin

Media Contact: Buck Feist, (406) 247-7607, bfeist@usbr.gov

For Release: May 21, 2015

BILLINGS, Mont. -- Reclamation's May forecast for the April through July runoff predicted for the Bighorn Basin and North Platte is as follows:

  • Bighorn Lake - Bighorn River April through July inflow to Bighorn Lake is forecast at 637,300 acre-feet (af), which is 59 percent of the 30 year average of 1,081,600 af. Approximately 130,500 af of the forecasted amount flowed into Bighorn Lake during April, leaving 506,800 af of inflow forecasted for May through July.

  • Buffalo Bill Reservoir - Shoshone River April through July inflow to Buffalo Bill Reservoir is forecast at 500,000 af, which is 74 percent of the 30 year average of 678,000 af. Approximately 73,000 af of the forecasted amount flowed into Buffalo Bill during April, leaving 427,000 af of inflow forecasted for May through July.

  • Boysen Reservoir - Wind River April through July inflow to Boysen Reservoir is forecast at 300,000 af, which is 56 percent of the 30 year average of 534,000 af. Approximately 45,000 af of the forecasted amount flowed into Boysen during April, leaving 255,000 af of inflow forecasted for May through July.

  • Bull Lake Reservoir - April through July snowmelt runoff into Bull Lake Reservoir from Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 110,000 af, which is 80 percent of the 30 year average of 137,000 af. Approximately 6,000 af of the forecasted amount flowed into Bull Lake during April, leaving 104,000 af of inflow forecasted for May through July.

  • Wind River - April through July snowmelt runoff into the Wind River above Bull Lake Creek is expected to be 280,000 af, which is 70 percent of the 30 year average of 402,000 af. Approximately 37,000 af of the forecasted amount was received during April, leaving 243,000 af of inflow forecasted for May through July.

Reclamation will update the inflow forecasts again in June.

For additional information on Buffalo Bill, Boysen and Bull Lake Reservoirs, contact Wyoming Area Manager Carlie Ronca at 307-261-5671. For additional information on Bighorn Lake, contact Montana Area Manager Brent Esplin at 406-247-7298.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

Montana Area Office Home Page

Wyoming Area Office Home Page